Bottle top cap for ingot molds



Nov. 11, 1969 M. E. LA BATE 3,477,683

BOTTLE TOP CAP FOR INGOT MOLDS Filed April 19. 1967 INVENTOR.

Michael E. La Bafe m KA- ATTORNEY.

United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bottle top cap formed of a material that will harden into a ceramic when installed on an ingot mold and subjected to the temperature of molten metal therein so as to form a hard dense ceramic cap that will not stick to the metal.

This invention relates to a bottle cap, and more particularly to a bottle top cap for a bottle top ingot mold in which molten is deposited for the formation of an ingot.

Bottle top molds are made of cast iron and have a relative small pouring opening in their upper end. Upon molten metal being poured into such molds the pouring opening is capped so as to slow down the cooling or chilling rate of the metal and thereby avoid the cracks and tubes and other undesirable formations which occur in a cast ingot when it cools rapidly, Heretofore such bottle top caps have been formed of cast iron and are conventionally provided with an upturned apertured lug or boss on their uppermost surfaces, which permits them to be threaded on to a supporting rod which is then positioned across the top of the bottle top mold so as to support the bottle top cap in the opening in the mold through which the hot metal is poured and substantially close the same.

Heretofore such cast iron bottle top caps have had the undesirable characteristic of welding to the poured metal and/or the ingot mold, which results in a loss of time and effort in attempting to remove them so that the ingot mold may be subsequently reused. The present invention relates to a solution to this problem and is achieved by forming the bottle top cap in the conventional size and shape including the apertured boss for its supporting rod, of a material such as dolomite which material will upon being subjected to the approximately 2400 F. temperature of the molten metal poured in the ingot mold, harden or fire as termed in the art, into a ceramic which has the capability of not welding, adhering or otherwise sticking to either the poured metal or the ingot mold. The improved bottle top cap may therefore be quickly and easily removed when desired, permitting the ready reuse of the ingot mold and thereby saving considerable time and expense heretofore believed necessary.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the bottle top cap with parts broken away and in cross section.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the bottle top cap.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional elevation of the upper end portion of a bottle top ingot mold showing the bottle top cap of the invention positioned in the opening in the top of the ingot mold.

By referring to the drawing, and FIGURES 1 and 2 in particular, it will be seen that the bottle top cap is a circular body having a relatively flat top with an annular tapered side wall 11 and a curved bottom 12 joining the tapered annular side wall 11 on a relatively large radius. The upper central portion of the bottle top cap is provided with an upstanding boss 13 which is apertured as at 14 and which is useful in receiving a supporting rod therethrough, as seen in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

The bottle top cap comprises an integral formed body member of a material capable of hardening or firing into a ceramic when subjected to appropriate temperatures, as for example, dolomite, and the drawing in FIGURE 1 is cross sectioned and shaded to indicate such a refractory material.

The bottle top cap includes a wire screen reinforcement 15 positioned transversely of the bottle top cap, as also seen in the cross sectional portion of FIGURE 1. In FIGURE 2 of the drawings the flat top 10 of the bottle top cap may be seen with the central location of the apertured boss 13 clearly indicated.

In FIGURE 3 of the drawings the upper end of a bottle top ingot mold M is shown with parts broken away, and illustrating the opening 0 therein through which the hot metal is poured into mold M.

A bottle top cap formed in accordance with the invention is shown positioned in the opening 0 of the mold M and supported by a rod 16 which extends transversely of the apertured boss 13 heretofore referred to, and outwardly and through loops 17 formed on the upper end of the mold M so as to position and retain the rod 16 in desirable relation. It will thus be seen that when hot metal has been poured into the mold M through the opening 0 the bottle top cap formed of dolomite, or the like, as'disclosed herein, is positioned on the rod 16 and located in the opening 0 so as to close the same. The rod 16 is then moved longitudinally to engage both ends thereof in the loops 17 of the mold M, whereupon the bottle cap mold is properly capped. The heat of the molten metal in the ingot mold will be approximately 2400 F. which is adequate for the firing of the dolomite of the bottle top cap and the same forms a ceramic which does not adhere either to the metal of the ingot mold M or the molten metal therein, thereby meeting the several objects of the invention. It will also be seen that the bottle top cap formed of material capable of hardening into a ceramic when fired may be simply and easily formed by molding the same from prepared raw dolomite, and that the screen reinforcing member 15 is easily inserted into the bottle top cap when the same is molded. The bottle top cap so formed is air dried to harden the same, whereupon it is then ready for use as aforesaid.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A bottle top cap in combination with an ingot mold comprising a suitably shaped cap of an unfired material capable of hardening into a ceramic which has the capability of not sticking to solidified molten metal when subjected to appropriate temperatures.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottle top cap is formed of raw dolomite.

The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein the cap includes a wire screen reinforcing member.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottle top cap is formed with an apertured boss on its uppermost surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1923 Pedersen 249-83 X 2,190,392 2/ 1940 Belding 249-204 X 2,358,652 9/1944 Nicholas 26643 X 2,373,845 4/1945 Norton 266--43 X J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner DE WALDEN W. JONES, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

